Program Manager, Skills First at Work

About SHRM

SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting todays evolving workplaces. With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally.

Overview

The Program Manager, Skills First at Work is a dynamic and proven leader responsible for executing strategy, administering, and evaluating SHRM Foundation programming that advances skills-first talent management across the employer lifecycle. This role manages a portfolio of initiatives focused on helping employers shift from credential- and degree-based hiring toward practices that recognize skills, competencies, and potential.

As part of the broader Widening Pathways to Work portfolio, this role works in close coordination with the Program Manager for Untapped Pools of Talent to ensure that skills-first strategies are implemented in ways that expand access to opportunity for a broad range of workers.

The Program Manager ensures program excellence, funder accountability, and achievement of intended impact within their designated portfolio, supporting the Foundation’s goal to transform the hiring practices of 100,000 U.S. employers by 2034.

Work Environment

Hybrid Position (3 Days In-Office, 2 Days Remote)

• This position follows a hybrid work schedule, with Tuesday through Thursday in office and Monday and Friday remote.
• Employees must be available during standard business hours, with core hours beginning between 8:00AM – 9:00AM and concluding between 5:00PM – 6:00PM.

Travel: 20 – 30%

Responsibilities

• Manages a series of programs and grants focused on skills-first hiring and advancement, including budget oversight, expenditure monitoring, and results tracking. Prepares progress reports, ensures compliance, and maintains records for grant-funded programs.
• Provides ongoing oversight, progress tracking, and quality control of programs and projects within the Skills First at Work portfolio, ensuring consistency of participation and evaluation across initiatives.
• Manages vendor and partner relationships and represents SHRM Foundation’s skills-first efforts in public relations, communications, and marketing activities.
• Develops annual and monthly operational plans to monitor and ensure strategic plan objectives related to skills-first adoption are met and exceeded.
• Collaborates with SHRM Research and Product Development teams to develop and maintain tools, trainings, assessments, and research related to skills-first talent management.
• Serves as liaison to Brand and Marketing, Accounting, Legal, and other relevant departments in managing program communications, budgets, and contracts.
• Engages with SHRM Membership and Government Affairs teams to ensure alignment, coordination, and leverage opportunities related to skills-first initiatives.
• Actively collaborates with the Foundation’s Engagement and Philanthropy team to develop donor solicitation ideas and proposals, participate in donor meetings, and track donor commitments.
• Supervises program staff and dedicated contractors, providing guidance, professional development, and performance management.
• Implements evaluation frameworks and analytical metrics to monitor employer behavior change and improve program performance.
• Develops compelling narratives and success stories to articulate program impact and contribute to employer-facing resource libraries.
• May be assigned to other initiatives within the Widening Pathways to Work portfolio as necessary.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education

• Germane degree and non-degree credentials or other verifications of skills and competencies will be considered.

Experience

• At least eight (8) years of progressive program and leadership experience, preferably within workforce development, talent strategy, or the nonprofit sector.
• Demonstrated success managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders, tight deadlines, and accountability for measurable outcomes.
• Proven track record in grant management, including budget development, compliance, reporting, and funder relationship management.
• Supervisory experience, including managing both employees and contractors to achieve program goals.
• Experience designing and implementing employer-facing programs that support organizational change and adoption of new talent practices is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated aptitude in landscape research and analysis, complex project management, philanthropic engagement, and program assessment.
• Ability to articulate overarching strategy while managing detailed execution across multiple initiatives.
• Strong collaboration and negotiation skills with funders, partners, and peers.
• Ability to confidently engage CEOs, HR leaders, and practitioners around new approaches to talent management.
• Highly proficient in cross-functional collaboration across departments and external partners.
• Excellent organizational planning, presentation, and professional writing skills in English.

Physical Requirements

This position operates in a typical office environment and requires the ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Physical requirements may include:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, handling documents, and using office equipment.
• Occasional standing, walking, bending, and reaching.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds as needed.
• Clear verbal and written communication skills for effective interaction with colleagues and stakeholders.

Compensation & Benefits

The hiring range for this position is $100,000 to $125,000 per year. This range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on the candidate's experience, skills, and qualifications. SHRM offers a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package. The benefits for this position include professional growth and development, health, dental, vision, well-being, health savings, flexible spending, retirement, open leave, and annual discretionary bonus and incentives.